ALDERSHOT TN 1, BROMLEY 1

MANNY Oyeleke snatched a 92nd-minute equaliser just as it seemed as though Aldershot’s title hopes were slipping through their grasp with a second consecutive home defeat.

While Saturday’s conquerors, Macclesfield, were making another huge statement of intent by winning 4-1 against an erstwhile rampant Tranmere on Tuesday night, the Shots were laboring to rediscover their home form and ultimately were grateful for a point.

As with the defeat to the Silkmen, Aldershot enjoyed ample possession, but lacked the tempo and guile to capitalise and Bromley could have sealed victory before Oyeleke’s late strike.

“Somehow, we’ve got a point very late in the game, but I think it was deserved,” said manager Gary Waddock. “With the amount of possession we had in the second half, we should have done better though.

“Bromley set up very well and they sprung off us very well, so you have to give them great credit, but our players kept going right until the end and found a way to get a result.

“Our points return at home remains a concern. Teams come here and set up in a certain way, but we won’t change the way we play.”

Both sides fashioned a couple of long-range efforts early on, with James Rowe again looking lively for the hosts.

But it was Bromley who took the lead from a lethal counter-attack on 23 minutes. Louis Dennis found Brandon Hanlan breaking down the right and his low pull-back was perfect for Luke Woolfenden, arriving in the box ahead of Cheye Alexander, to flick a shot into the bottom corner.

Aldershot newcomer Josh McQuoid saw his shot parried by David Gregory, but Bromley also had the second best opportunity of the first half – a low drive from the impressive Josh Rees which flashed just wide of the upright.

Aldershot were marginally resurgent after the break, but were again fortunate not to go two down as Hanlan sped past Callum Reynolds and set up Dennis for a shot which George Fowler did superbly well to divert over the crossbar.

Adam McDonnell fired wide and the introduction of winger Bobby-Joe Taylor for the final 20 minutes lifted the Shots. Even so, it was hardly a grandstand finish. There was a slew of corners and balls lifted into the box and Gregory clutched Alexander’s shot at the second attempt.

But Bromley were cursing their luck in the 87th minute after missing another excellent chance to kill the game off, substitute Omar Bugiel blasting wide from a great position.

Finally, in stoppage time, Aldershot had redemption. Alexander took a quick throw and Lewis Kinsella swung in an immediate cross to where Scott Rendell was rising highest amidst a crowd. His downward header was allowed to bounce and Oyeleke reacted quicker than two defenders to lash the ball into the net from 12 yards.

Suddenly the Shots had purpose and could have snatched an undeserved winner even deeper into added time as goalkeeper Gregory headed a through-ball clear to deny Shamir Fenelon and Rowe guided the rebound wide from distance.

For all of Aldershot’s relief at avoiding defeat, there remained a sense of under-achievement with the realisation that this result extended their home run to four games without a win.

Aldershot: Ward; Alexander, Reynolds, Fowler, Kinsella; Oyeleke, McDonnell; Robert (Fenelon 56), Rowe, McQuoid (Taylor 69); Kabamba (Rendell 56). Subs (not used): Cole, Kellermann. Booked: McQuoid, Oyeleke.

Bromley: Gregory, Rees (Chorley 84), Holland, Raymond, Hanlan (Bugiel 76), Dennis, Higgs, Sterling, Porter (Sutherland 64), R Johnson, Woolfenden. Subs (not used): D Johnson, Wanadio. Booked: Dennis.

Referee: Adrian Quelch.

Attendance: 1,909 (83 away).

• Macclesfield extend their lead to five points at the top of the National League table. Sutton United are second, one point above Aldershot, Boreham Wood and Wrexham.

• Wrexham, who host Aldershot this Saturday, were held to a goalless draw at Solihull Moors on Tuesday.